What if daily dog walks aren’t helping your reactive dog—but actually making things worse?

In this real, raw episode of Straight Up Dog Talk, Em shares how she learned the hard way that pushing daily walks was overstimulating—not calming—her reactive dog, Fitz. What followed was a complete reframe of exercise, training, and enrichment… and the discovery of a slower, safer way to meet his needs.

In this episode:

• Understand how walk-induced overstimulation can sabotage your dog’s progress

• Learn to recognize when your dog’s not ready—and why rest can be productive

• Discover walk-free enrichment routines that actually support regulation and connection

Press play to release the pressure, reimagine what training and enrichment can look like—and give both you and your dog permission to go at a pace that truly works.

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores life with dogs and life with pets, focusing on the dog–human bond and what it truly takes to bond with your dog through dog enrichment, behavior guidance, dog reactivity support, reactivity awareness, reactive dogs, reactive dog training, calming reactive dogs, dog training, dog training tips, training rescue dogs, pet training, dog obedience, dog behavior, dog behaviour, dog socialization, dog barking, dog habits, dog health, dog life, dog myths, and positive reinforcement for all dogs — rescue dogs, velcro dogs, anxious dogs, reactive dogs, high-energy dogs, big-feeling dogs, and family pets. Hosted by a canine nutritionist, nutrition coach, dog coach, dog coaching specialist, and retired vet tech, each episode covers dog food, canine enrichment, dog training, dog nutrition, canine nutrition, dog gut health, dog grief, dog products, and science-backed routines that help dogs feel safer, healthier, calmer, and more understood. You’ll discover practical steps, enrichment ideas, behavior strategies, and daily habits to support any dog and create a more confident, connected life with dogs.

Is your dog’s reactivity really about disobedience—or are they trying to tell you something deeper?

In this powerful and paradigm-shifting episode of Straight Up Dog Talk, Em sits down with Matt Beisner (Dog: Impossible, The Zen Dog) to explore the emotional, neurological, and spiritual dimensions of dog reactivity. Together, they unpack why dominance-based training fails, and how relationship-first, trauma-informed approaches can build lasting safety and trust—for dogs and their humans.

In this episode:

• Understand how fear, trauma, and dysregulation show up in dog training

• Learn why connection—not control—is the foundation for true progress

• Discover how to lead with empathy, presence, and enrichment that supports healing, not just behavior change

Press play to explore what it really means to train, trust, and grow with your reactive dog—and why the journey might be as much about your healing as it is theirs.

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores life with dogs and life with pets, focusing on the dog–human bond and what it truly takes to bond with your dog through dog enrichment, behavior guidance, dog reactivity support, reactivity awareness, reactive dogs, reactive dog training, calming reactive dogs, dog training, dog training tips, training rescue dogs, pet training, dog obedience, dog behavior, dog behaviour, dog socialization, dog barking, dog habits, dog health, dog life, dog myths, and positive reinforcement for all dogs — rescue dogs, velcro dogs, anxious dogs, reactive dogs, high-energy dogs, big-feeling dogs, and family pets. Hosted by a canine nutritionist, nutrition coach, dog coach, dog coaching specialist, and retired vet tech, each episode covers dog food, canine enrichment, dog training, dog nutrition, canine nutrition, dog gut health, dog grief, dog products, and science-backed routines that help dogs feel safer, healthier, calmer, and more understood. You’ll discover practical steps, enrichment ideas, behavior strategies, and daily habits to support any dog and create a more confident, connected life with dogs.

Still trusting what the kibble bag tells you about your dog’s nutrition? I used to—until it failed me.

In this deeply personal and eye-opening solo episode, Em shares the story behind why she stopped feeding commercial kibble—and what happened when her senior dog’s health started to decline without warning. From label lies to raw feeding realities, this episode is your no-shame guide to rethinking what real nutrition looks like for your dog.

In this episode:

• Learn what AAFCO really does (and doesn’t) guarantee

• Hear how raw nutrition supported recovery and long-term wellness

• Discover how to improve your dog’s meals—without breaking the bank or your brain

Press play to cut through the marketing noise, trust your instincts, and feed your dog with more clarity, confidence, and care—starting right where you are.

My Daily Go-To Products:
PetMatRx Thrive Pack — Use code FITZ20 to save 20% at: https://petmatrx.com/?ref=tdwafm

Feed Real Dog Box — For dehydrated raw chews + varietyhttps://www.feedreal.com/?aff=straightupdogtalk 

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores life with dogs and life with pets, focusing on the dog–human bond and what it truly takes to bond with your dog through dog enrichment, behavior guidance, dog reactivity support, reactivity awareness, reactive dogs, reactive dog training, calming reactive dogs, dog training, dog training tips, training rescue dogs, pet training, dog obedience, dog behavior, dog behaviour, dog socialization, dog barking, dog habits, dog health, dog life, dog myths, and positive reinforcement for all dogs — rescue dogs, velcro dogs, anxious dogs, reactive dogs, high-energy dogs, big-feeling dogs, and family pets. Hosted by a canine nutritionist, nutrition coach, dog coach, dog coaching specialist, and retired vet tech, each episode covers dog food, canine enrichment, dog training, dog nutrition, canine nutrition, dog gut health, dog grief, dog products, and science-backed routines that help dogs feel safer, healthier, calmer, and more understood. You’ll discover practical steps, enrichment ideas, behavior strategies, and daily habits to support any dog and create a more confident, connected life with dogs.

Feel like you’re doing all the right things for your dog—but still overwhelmed by products that don’t deliver?

You’re not imagining it—most dog care products are built around marketing, not science. In this honest and eye-opening episode, Em chats with Lindsay Joyce and Julia Sigal from Pet Life Unlimited to explore what actually matters in your dog’s routine—and how to cut through the hype.

In this episode:

• Learn how to evaluate dog skincare, supplements, and grooming products with confidence

• Discover which items actually support enrichment and wellbeing—and which are just clutter

• Get practical tips for simplifying your routine while improving your dog’s overall care

Press play to stop wasting money, reduce stress, and create a care routine that’s as effective as it is empowering—for you and your dog.

🎁 Want to try Pet Life Unlimited for yourself?
Email [email protected] with the subject line Straight Up Dog Talk to claim your free sample.

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores life with dogs and life with pets, focusing on the dog–human bond and what it truly takes to bond with your dog through dog enrichment, behavior guidance, dog reactivity support, reactivity awareness, reactive dogs, reactive dog training, calming reactive dogs, dog training, dog training tips, training rescue dogs, pet training, dog obedience, dog behavior, dog behaviour, dog socialization, dog barking, dog habits, dog health, dog life, dog myths, and positive reinforcement for all dogs — rescue dogs, velcro dogs, anxious dogs, reactive dogs, high-energy dogs, big-feeling dogs, and family pets. Hosted by a canine nutritionist, nutrition coach, dog coach, dog coaching specialist, and retired vet tech, each episode covers dog food, canine enrichment, dog training, dog nutrition, canine nutrition, dog gut health, dog grief, dog products, and science-backed routines that help dogs feel safer, healthier, calmer, and more understood. You’ll discover practical steps, enrichment ideas, behavior strategies, and daily habits to support any dog and create a more confident, connected life with dogs.

What do you do when your dog is still here—but your heart already aches like they’re not?

In this honest and emotional solo episode, Em opens up about anticipatory grief—the deeply human experience of watching a beloved dog age, shift, or decline. It’s the grief that comes before the goodbye, and it’s something so few dog parents are prepared to navigate. Em shares her journey with Toby’s recent heart murmur diagnosis, and how it reshaped everything she thought she knew about presence, care, and emotional enrichment in a dog’s final chapter.

In this episode:

• Learn how to recognize anticipatory grief and give yourself permission to feel it

• Discover how slowness, softness, and presence become the most meaningful forms of enrichment

• Explore how the neuroscience of love and grief helps explain what you're feeling—and why it matters so much

Press play for a tender, truthful conversation that honors where you are—whether you're walking beside a senior dog, navigating a new diagnosis, or simply holding the weight of loving deeply

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores life with dogs and life with pets, focusing on the dog–human bond and what it truly takes to bond with your dog through dog enrichment, behavior guidance, dog reactivity support, reactivity awareness, reactive dogs, reactive dog training, calming reactive dogs, dog training, dog training tips, training rescue dogs, pet training, dog obedience, dog behavior, dog behaviour, dog socialization, dog barking, dog habits, dog health, dog life, dog myths, and positive reinforcement for all dogs — rescue dogs, velcro dogs, anxious dogs, reactive dogs, high-energy dogs, big-feeling dogs, and family pets. Hosted by a canine nutritionist, nutrition coach, dog coach, dog coaching specialist, and retired vet tech, each episode covers dog food, canine enrichment, dog training, dog nutrition, canine nutrition, dog gut health, dog grief, dog products, and science-backed routines that help dogs feel safer, healthier, calmer, and more understood. You’ll discover practical steps, enrichment ideas, behavior strategies, and daily habits to support any dog and create a more confident, connected life with dogs.

Still dealing with indoor accidents—even though you’ve tried everything?

You’re not alone. Many dog parents don’t realize that scent—not disobedience—is often the real driver behind re-marking, potty regressions, and “mystery accidents.” In this practical and science-backed episode, Em sits down with Glenn, co-founder of NoPee, to explain how your dog’s nose is shaping their behavior—and why most cleaning routines aren’t cutting it.

In this episode:

• Learn how scent influences your dog’s potty training success

• Understand why standard odor removers fail (and what makes NoPee different)

• Discover how to support long-term potty habits by training your dog’s nose—not just their behavior

Press play to stop the cycle of re-marking and indoor accidents—for good—and learn how scent-based potty training can finally bring peace (and cleanliness) back into your home.

Special Listener Offer:
Email Glenn at [email protected] and mention Straight Up Dog Talk to get 20% off your order!

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores life with dogs and life with pets, focusing on the dog–human bond and what it truly takes to bond with your dog through dog enrichment, behavior guidance, dog reactivity support, reactivity awareness, reactive dogs, reactive dog training, calming reactive dogs, dog training, dog training tips, training rescue dogs, pet training, dog obedience, dog behavior, dog behaviour, dog socialization, dog barking, dog habits, dog health, dog life, dog myths, and positive reinforcement for all dogs — rescue dogs, velcro dogs, anxious dogs, reactive dogs, high-energy dogs, big-feeling dogs, and family pets. Hosted by a canine nutritionist, nutrition coach, dog coach, dog coaching specialist, and retired vet tech, each episode covers dog food, canine enrichment, dog training, dog nutrition, canine nutrition, dog gut health, dog grief, dog products, and science-backed routines that help dogs feel safer, healthier, calmer, and more understood. You’ll discover practical steps, enrichment ideas, behavior strategies, and daily habits to support any dog and create a more confident, connected life with dogs.

What if your dog’s progress isn’t about doing more training—but unlearning what’s no longer working?

In this emotional and deeply validating solo episode, Em shares the breaking point that led her to completely rethink how she approached dog training—especially with her reactive dog, Fitz. After years of doing everything “right,” she realized the only way forward wasn’t more structure—it was more trust. This episode is for every dog parent who’s ever felt defeated, confused, or like they’re failing—when the truth is, they’re just being asked to listen differently.

In this episode:

• Learn why overtraining can lead to burnout—for both you and your dog

• Hear how starting over created emotional safety and behavior change

• Discover how to rebuild trust through presence, patience, and unlearning

Press play to give yourself and your dog a reset—and explore a training path rooted in clarity, compassion, and connection.

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores real-life dog behavior and training through the lens of a canine nutritionist, dog coach, and retired vet tech—diving into reactivity, dog obedience, dog health, dog food, dog habits, dog lifestyle, canine enrichment, pet enrichment, dog myths, and what it actually takes to support reactive dogs safely and calmly. Whether you’re a dog mom navigating reactivity, building the human–dog bond, choosing dog products, or just trying to create a calmer dog life with your canine, you’ll find grounded strategies to build trust, improve dog behavior, and help your dog feel safe, understood, and supported.

Think highly trained dogs are immune to stress and pressure? Think again.In this powerful behind-the-scenes conversation, Em sits down with Sara Carson, America’s Got Talent finalist and founder of The Super Collies, to explore the real emotional landscape behind trick training, performance, and spotlight success. From trust-building to emotional regulation, they unpack what happens when training gets tied to perfection—and how to build a more compassionate connection instead.In this episode:- Discover how high-pressure environments affect dog training and behavior- Learn why trust and emotional enrichment are key to long-term performance and wellbeing- Hear candid insights from a top-tier trainer about what really matters in a dog’s developmentPress play to go beyond the tricks and titles—and discover what it truly takes to train with joy, presence, and partnership.

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores real-life dog behavior and training through the lens of a canine nutritionist, dog coach, and retired vet tech—diving into reactivity, dog obedience, dog health, dog food, dog habits, dog lifestyle, canine enrichment, pet enrichment, dog myths, and what it actually takes to support reactive dogs safely and calmly. Whether you’re a dog mom navigating reactivity, building the human–dog bond, choosing dog products, or just trying to create a calmer dog life with your canine, you’ll find grounded strategies to build trust, improve dog behavior, and help your dog feel safe, understood, and supported.

What if your dog’s reactivity isn’t just about training—but what you are holding inside?

In this raw, unfiltered solo episode, Em shares her personal healing journey—from quitting Xanax after 15 years to discovering the emotional patterns that were quietly shaping her dog’s behavior. What started as a health crisis turned into a nervous system awakening—and the lessons it revealed changed everything about how she shows up for her dogs and herself.

In this episode:

• Learn how unaddressed anxiety impacts training, reactivity, and dog behavior

• Discover how slowing down creates emotional safety for both dog and human

• Hear what it actually looks like to shift from performance to partnership

Press play for a powerful reminder that peace—not perfection—is the real goal, and your dog might already be showing you the way there.

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores real-life dog behavior and training through the lens of a canine nutritionist, dog coach, and retired vet tech—diving into reactivity, dog obedience, dog health, dog food, dog habits, dog lifestyle, canine enrichment, pet enrichment, dog myths, and what it actually takes to support reactive dogs safely and calmly. Whether you’re a dog mom navigating reactivity, building the human–dog bond, choosing dog products, or just trying to create a calmer dog life with your canine, you’ll find grounded strategies to build trust, improve dog behavior, and help your dog feel safe, understood, and supported.

What if your dog isn’t just “well-trained”—but emotionally intelligent, intuitive, and trying to connect in ways you’ve never noticed?

In this fascinating and heartfelt conversation, Em sits down with journalist and author Jennifer Holland to explore the real science—and real stories—behind canine intelligence. From body language and behavior to empathy and intuition, this episode will completely reframe how you see your dog’s brain, heart, and intentions.

In this episode:

• Discover how dogs use emotional intelligence to communicate beyond words

• Learn why tuning into your dog’s instincts, body language, and sensory cues matters more than commands

• Get inspired by real-life stories of dog empathy, cognition, and connection

Press play to explore the untapped brilliance of your dog—and walk away with practical ways to deepen trust, communication, and partnership through curiosity, not control.

Learn more about Jennifer and Dog Smart:
https://a.co/d/gTbBo2L

Straight Up Dog Talk Extras:

Get a free copy of Feeding without Fear for mealtime manners

⁠https://tinyurl.com/fearfreetdwafm⁠

Book a FREE 15-minute call with Em

⁠https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ to get in touch with Em

This podcast explores real-life dog behavior and training through the lens of a canine nutritionist, dog coach, and retired vet tech—diving into reactivity, dog obedience, dog health, dog food, dog habits, dog lifestyle, canine enrichment, pet enrichment, dog myths, and what it actually takes to support reactive dogs safely and calmly. Whether you’re a dog mom navigating reactivity, building the human–dog bond, choosing dog products, or just trying to create a calmer dog life with your canine, you’ll find grounded strategies to build trust, improve dog behavior, and help your dog feel safe, understood, and supported.